Switch for directional signals



April 1, 1930. E. YOCUM ET AL 1,753,078

SWITCH FOR DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS Filed March 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 1, 1930. E. 1.. YOCUM ET AL 1,753,078

SWITCH FOR DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS Filed March 6. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. llyocum/ E-Z Wardrop INVENTOR ATTOR NEY 7' 10 in making the turn. 1

Patented Apr a j or 'snmoxm', hammer: in. waannor, or am on,

This invention relates to a switch for a; directional signal, the general object of the invention being to provide switch .means on the steering column operated by hand to s close the circuits of the lamps'in the sifgnal f'device and operated byithe movement the steering wheel to open the circuits so that the device is semi-automatic, as the switches are opened by the movement of the steering wheel This invention also consists in certain othor features of construction'and in the combination and arrangement of theseveral parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and s ecifically ppinted out in the appended 0 am. a Y

- In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accomganying drawings wherein like. characters enote like or corresponding arts throughout the several views,andinw 'ch Y Fi re 1 is a plan view of the steering whee showing the switch means on the col-' Figure 2 is a sectionon line 2-2 of Fig-' ure 1.

Figure 3 is a view taken a quarter turn from Figure 2, and showing parts in sec-' tion.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3. l

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the switch casing, with one 'of the switch means in elevation. 3 j

Figuree isavertical sectional view through. the switch casing, with one switch closed and the othero en. V

Figure 7 is a. iagrammatic view of the cir cunts.

As shown in Figure Z, the switch is used to control the circuits of the signal lamps 3 and 3 which are arranged in a signal device in such a manner as to indicate that the vehicle is to he turned to the right when one lamp is lighted and to the left when the other lamp is lighted.

A circnlar switch casing 6 is placed on the steering column 7 under the steering wheel 8 two pairs oi? arc-shaped blocks till swrrcn ran nmncr'ronan sreNALs an, swarm. 844,812.

9 are placed in said casing. Each pair is slidably supported on the rods 10 and springs 11 are place on the rods and act to press the blocks toward each other. The lower block 'ofjeach which, w

plair carries a. bridging member 12 V. en the block is in lowered position, W111 bridge. the contacts 13 and 14 so that current will pass from one contact to the other. The contact 13 is connected with a terminal 15 which is electrically connected with thebattery of the car or other source of supply and the terminal 16 which is connected with one of the contacts 14: is connected by a conductor 17 with the lamp 3 and the terminal 16 for the other contact 14 is connected by the conductor 18 with the lamp 3. Thus when one of the lower blocks is depressed, the circuit'from battery B to one of the lamps is completed and when the other lower block is depressed, the circuit to the second lam is completed.

A pair 0 shafts 19 is 'ournaled in the easing 6 and a block 2.0 is astened to the inner end of each shaft adjacent one end of the block and a, handle 21 is fastened to the other end of each shaft. When each handle is in horizontal position, the block 20 which is connected with the shaft of said handle is also in horizontal position, so that the springs will press the blocks 9 toward thewblock 20 and thus hold the block and the handle in horizontal position, it being seen that the blocks '20 are arranged between the blocks 9. When the driver is to make a turn to the left, he swings the handle 21 on the left side of the casing 6 upwardly, sothat the block 20 which is connected with the shaft of said handle, is moved into vertical position, which depresses th'elower block 9 and thus closes the circuit to cause its block to depress the other switch to close the circnit to the right hand lamp and then when the turn is bein made, the bracket on the steering wheel wil engage the handle and thus open the switch. As will be seen, the switches for. thelamps are closed by hand, but the are automatically opened by the turning o the steering wheel to make the vehicle take the turn.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advanta es and novel features of the invention will e readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts,

provided that such changes fall within the sco e of the appended claim.

at we clalm is In a motor vehicle, a switch casing located on the steering column thereof adjacent the steering wheel; a switch in the casing comprising upper and lower members, rods on which the members slide, spring means for forcing the members toward each other, a bridging member carried by the lower member, a pair of contacts bridged by said member when the lower member is depressed, a block arranged between the two members, a shaft passing through the casing and connected with the block adjacent one end of the block, a handle connected with the outer end of the shaft and extending upwardly when the switch is in closed positlon and a depending part on the steering wheel for engaging the handle when the wheel is turned to cause the same to move the switch to open position.

In testimony whereof we aifix our signatures.

ELMER L. YOCUM. RALPH T. WARDROP. 

